One of England’s biggest matches of the season kicks off today under unfamiliar circumstances with the current Premier League title-holders playing against the team that is battling to win the title, while the red half of Manchester are fighting to finish in a European qualification spot.

Today’s Manchester derby gives United an ideal opportunity to smash City’s title chances, while finishing the season with some pride as long as Red Devils manager David Moyes can get his team into Europe by the end of the season.

While many eyes will be glued to the match from Old Trafford today, there are two other vitally important matches being played in England. The first is in north London where Arsene Wenger will walk out of their shadows of Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing against Chelsea to face the music against Swansea City. Wenger will be counting on his Arsenal team to bounce back to exorcise the negativity that the team suffered at the hands of Chelsea. But don’t count Swansea out, who will be pushing for a vital point or three to keep their hopes alive of staying in the Premier League at the end of this season.

Last but not least, Everton will be hoping for three points to keep their hopes of qualification for the Europa League alive. The Toffees didn’t put in their greatest performance on Saturday against Swansea in the team’s 3-2 win, but Roberto Martinez’s side will fancy its chances against Newcastle who are still without manager Alan Pardew due to his suspension.

For viewers in the United States, the TV schedule today is as follows:

About The Author

Publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris founded the site in 2005. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who was born and raised in Wales, has lived in Florida since 1984, and supported Swansea City since 1979. Last but not least, he got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.

30 Comments

GuyMarch 25, 2014

Today’s Manchester derby should certainly show if United really have anything in the tank. There can’t be many other matches they would rather win than this one, right now, in this situation.

On City’s side, it is all in their hands. Home or away, how badly do they want the title?

Utd need to dump Kagawa, Hernandez, Nani, Young, Evra, Evans to name a few. Toure is everything Fellaini isn’t. They’re in big trouble and are going to have to overpay player’s wages just to entice any decent players to come to the club.

Based on current form, the aggregate score of Bayern – Man Utd should be something like 7:1, 8:1, 9:1…anything different would be the shock of the season. The difference between the two sides is huge.

They say Souness set Liverpool back 20-30 years…Moyes is United’s Souness…nice guy, but way out of his element there. The sooner he goes, the better. For the best of Man Utd, he should not get a second season.

Hopefully Woy at least won’t pick the mistakes of nature playing for United that someone somehow made to be great and talented prospects: Jones, Cleverly, Smalling, Young, Welbeck…they are all shockingly awful. Years down the road, we will look back and ponder, how did someone pay Danny Welbeck $ to play professional football? Even more, how did he play for Manchester United?

Hopefully Everton take over Arsenal for 4th…they deserve it. Credit to Martinez…that Barkley goal: what a great run and composed finish. Kid is only 18…

Arsenal…it would be funny, if it wasn’t sad…year after year, same old story, the implosion in the spring, bla-h, bla-h…

Welbeck was our best player last night. I don’t think he is a Striker but a winger. He was great so I’d ont get why your picking on him. Jones shouldn’t be in thecategory with any of them as he has actual talent and can be a great player